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26 fun and FREE events to check out in New Westminster this summer

The Arts Council of New Westminster has announced its summer events schedule, and it’s a jam-packed one from June right through to September.

It’s getting set to be an arty summer in New Westminster.

The Arts Council of New Westminster has announced its summer events schedule, and it’s a jam-packed one from June right through to September.

“2017 was the Arts Council of New Westminster’s busiest year of infusing the arts into the community,” a press release says. “2018 has shaped up to be an even bigger year for showcasing all the amazing talent New Westminster has to offer.”

 Entertainers at a Fridays on Front event last summer. The Friday night events are back again for four evenings in July, starting July 6. (Photograph By RECORD FILES)Entertainers at a Fridays on Front event last summer. The Friday night events are back again for four evenings in July, starting July 6. (Photograph By RECORD FILES)

Among the season’s highlights will be the return of the Music by the River concert series on Thursday evenings in July, the New West Craft Summer Night Market and July 7, and the New West Cultural Crawl happening city-wide on August 11 and 12.

All of the events are free.

Here are some of the month-by-month highlights:

JUNE

  • New West Craft – artisan market on the esplanade at River Market, June 2 and 16, 11 am to 4 pm
  • Praxis: Free Alternative Yoga and Figure Drawing – Centennial Lodge, June 20, 7 pm
  • Uptown Unplugged - Saturdays at Westminster Centre and Sundays at Royal City Centre, noon to 2 pm
  • ArtsToGo – at Queensborough Children’s Festival, June 16, 11 am to 3 pm
  • National Indigenous People’s Day – Westminster Pier Park, June 21, 10 am to 2 pm
  • NWSS grad show exhibition – The Gallery at Queen’s Park, June 6 to 24

JULY

  • Canada Day – community celebration in Queen’s Park, July 1, 11 am to 3 pm
  • Canada Day – uptown, Sixth and Sixth, Uptown Unplugged and ArtsToGo
  • Music By the River – July 5, 12, 19, 26 at Westminster Pier Park, 6 to 8 pm
  • Fridays on Front – concert series July 6, 13, 20, 27 on Front Street, 5 to 9 pm
  • Uptown Unplugged - Saturdays at Westminster Centre and Sundays at Royal City Centre, noon to 2 pm
  • New West Craft – artisan market on the esplanade at River Market, July 7 and 21, 11 am to 4 pm
  • New West Craft Summer Night Market – on the esplanade at River Market and Fraser River Discovery Centre, 6 to 9:30pm, July 7

 The River Market in New Westminster (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)The River Market in New Westminster (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

AUGUST

  • Music by the River – concert series at Pier Park, Aug. 2 and 9
  • Fridays on Front – concert series on Front Street, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24
  • Uptown Unplugged – Saturdays at Westminster Centre and Sundays at Royal City Centre, noon to 2 pm
  • New West Craft – artisan market on the esplanade at River Market, Aug. 4 and 18, 11 am to 4 pm
  • New West Cultural Crawl – Aug. 10, 11 and 12 at various venues across New Westminster
  • Performing Arts Pilot Project – Aug. 11 – Queen’s Park Bandshell
  • Inter/action for Lex Ireton – Aug. 12 at The Gallery at Queen’s Park, with artist talk from 3 to 4 pm Lex Ireton exhibition runs Aug. 1 to 26
  • Pride Arts Celebration – Aug. 13 – Pride Week at Centennial Lodge, with youth art exhibition and poetry reading

SEPTEMBER

  • Uptown Unplugged – Saturdays at Westminster Centre and Sundays at Royal City Centre, noon to 2 pm (until Sept. 9)
  • New West Craft – artisan market on the esplanade at River Market, Sept. 15
  • Inter/action for Suzanne Laird – Sept. 16 in The Gallery at Queen’s Park, with artist talk from 3 to 4 pm Suzanne Laird exhibition runs Sept. 5 to 30
  • Praxis: Free Alternative Yoga and Figure Drawing – Sept. 19 from 7 to 8 pm at Centennial Lodge
  • New West Craft at RiverFest – artisan fair Sept. 22 at the Fraser River Discovery Centre

Read more from the New West Record

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